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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. The campaign to unseal state adoption records gets a hearing before lawmakers. Plus just in time for valentines day. the art of chocolate from a New Hampshire original. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of today's news. |
| Adoption Hear VO Return to index of stories... |
Should adoption records be open? That was the subject of debate today at a legsilative hearing in Concord. An overflow crowd of birth parents and adult adoptees testified before the Child and Family Law committee. House Bill 449 would give18 year old adoptees the right to access their original birth documents. It would eliminate the expensive and complicated legal process of a court ordered search or case. One of the bill's supporters is the parent of two adopted children. |
| Tag Adoption Return to index of stories... |
The bill was sent to a subcommittee for review and evaluation. We examine some of issues and conflicts of open adoption in just a few minutes. |
| Deregulation Return to index of stories... |
The power crisis in California is causing some to call for closer scrutiny of electric deregulation in New Hampshire. Dover representative Gary Gilmore wants to delay deregulation while the state considers results of California's situation. Governor Shaheen today said the delays are unconscionable and costing millions. Public Service spokesman Martin Murray says the California and New England energy markets have little in common. He says California's problems were caused by lack of power supply, not deregulation. Some are also questioning whether PSNH should delay selling its power plants as it sells refinanced bonds. Murray explains why that's not possible. |
| Tag PSNH Return to index of stories... |
As part of the deregulation agreement with the state, Public Service will sell three fossil fuel plants and its share of the Seabrook nuclear plant. |
| Eagle Nest Return to index of stories... |
A pair of bald eagles may put the brakes on a new Manchester construction project. The eagles have taken up residence along the Merrimack River in Bedford. Watchers spotted the pair building a nest along the site of the proposed access road linking the Everett Turnpike to Manchester Airport. The eagles are protected by state and federal law and could possibly force the state to find another construction route. Audubon officials say building a road in the area would destroy the site as habitat and are discussing options for protecting the nest with officials from the Department of transportation. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Some wet weather is headed in our direction.Some of us will see it in the form of rain others snow. With a look at what it's doing on top of Mt Washington tonight - we spoke a bit earlier with weather observor Katie Hess. OUT: |
| Intro Adoption Return to index of stories... |
According to the New Hampshire adminstrative probate court there were 846 adoptions in NH last year. And according to Marketdata Enterprises, 138,000 nationwide in 1999. Many of those records are sealed. As we mentioned earlier, a campaign is underway to change that with passage of House Bill 449. As Chip Neal reports, a group called the "New Hampshire Open Adoption Records Coaliton" is hoping the legislature agrees. |
| OPEN ADOPTION Return to index of stories... |
SOT Demonstration in front of Capital VO Donna - we have one goal that is to help adult adoptees to gain access to their original birth certificates Chip VO Donna Chagnon is president of the New Hampshire Open Adoption Records Coalition. The group has been promoting its cause with literature and petition drives and demonstrations like this one at the state capitol last fall. Its members have been meeting regularly here at the Hookset library for over a year. Donna - I'm a birth mother a happily reunited birth mother, I searched for my son in 1997 and found him in 1998 and everything has been wonderful. 5:59 1:00 Gloria Bengal Derry NH. I'm an adoptee and a birth mother and a survivor. My daughter was born in 1970 it was the result of family sexual abuse and I had no choices but to surrender her for adoption. I was very young I could not take care of her. And I did not want the same thing to happen to her as happened to me, so I made a very hard decision to give her up for adoption. I wanted her to have a home with 2 living parents. I knew I could have done it but I was just too young. I started my search in 1994 I always knew I wanted to find her I wanted to know who she was and what did she look like. and how she was was she OK. I first called the agency I placed her with. They were not real helpful little bits of info. Then I decided to write to the hospital were she was born and I was able to get my records but not hers becasue I had waited until she was over 21. So I could no longer release her records to her. I joined a group in Rochester of support for people who were searching. They tried to help me.. Finally, I hired a private detective. I used the internet and e-mail and someone told me where to find her. I finally made contact with her on Jan 27 1999 and I met her on Halloween of 1999. Kathleen Paquett - I didn't have too many resources open to me. Records are sealed I was told no where ever I turned. So I went to the court and petitioned a judge and he told me no. so I gave up. Then I tried again in courts and they told me no again.then when I was expecting my second child I went back with a letter and all kinds of material. And finally the judge opened the records and he said I don't know why it was so difficult before. In courts it depends on who you get and their personal feelings. It isn't fair. 8:05 I was reunited with my birth mother in 1996 and this is my half brother. And I have three other siblings. Josh has been visiting with me for 3 months now. Chip Track - Judge John Maher is Administrative Judge of the Rocingham County Probate Court. His court handles adoptions for Rockingham County. Judge Maher - 5:10 When an adoptee is 21 they would come to the court and ask that there records be opened. Right now we have said that there are agencies that would be better suited for dealing those are the adoption agencies. So we refer that adoptee to the agency that did the home study when the person was adopted. Chip Neal outside Child & Family Services - In New Hampshire the largest adoption agency is Child and Family services here in Manchester. So, often this is where an adult adoptee will begin the search for their birth parents. Caroline Dahlstrom Dir. Adoption Services - explains their role in the search process. They give out non-identifying information first then try to locate birth mother and see if she wants to make contact. Paula Pierce Search Coordinator - talks about birth mothers who would not want open adoption records. They have spouses and children who do not know. Times were different 30 years ago. Have to be careful how we approach a birth mother 30 years later. Caroline - talks about Child & FAmily Services problems with the bill. One section seems to say even the birth mother's counseling records are open to the adoptee. And they would like the age to stay at 21. More maturity. And they are not sure how birth mothers will react to being found directly by the adoptee rather than an intermediary. says no then they would come back to you and what happens from there well, it's really in my discretion to decide what is in the best interest to open up that record more or not. Chip VO track Anne McClain Kuster is a Concord lawyer who has been handling adoptions for 16 years. 7:42 Anne McLane Kuster - On occassion I have heard where the reunifivations have been dissapointing so I am supportive of the role of private counselors , In NH it's done by Child & Family SErvices and professionals in child reunification that can help the adoptees cope with their expectations. Because they may have some expectations about the birth parents that may or may not be accurate. You have to deal with the privacy of the birth parents lives They may have placed a child for adoption in their teens and then they move on in their life. Donna - I had to go to the court and ask them what the agency was. Because of the trauma of the surrender I couldn't remember. Then they put me in touch with the agency and they found my son and asked him if he wanted contact. He was 23 No. And as it stands right now. Even though he and I have contact, and even if I say he can get it, he cannot get his original birth certificate. Rep. Jane Wood - it will be an uphill battle because many people are like I was and don't have an understanding of the issue. Ignorande, and fear are the biggest problems unfounded fears that adoptees who find out the information about birth parents will go off and do something bizarre. It is an unfounded fear. Anne Custer - But it's often a somewhat tenuous decision and. less privacy might be enough for them to decide not to do it. Over all I am a strong advocate for adoption I think it serves the need of many many people with unplanned pregnacies and it's a wonderful thing for adoptive families and adoptees. So I would hate to see anything that would diminish adoptions I think it's a wonderful thing. Judge Maher - 12:10 It truely is a different world. If for no other statistic then when I first started practicing law in 1969. I had a rare case of what we would call bastard case. Now 35% of kids are born out of wedlock. So that very big issue of wanting confidentiality 25 30 years ago it's not there today. I would be looking at the rights of the various parties, and I think it's very very important for the adoptees to have as much knowledge as they can have as to where they came from who their partents were. I think that probably trumps the right of a birth mother to say I don't want it disclosed. That's my personal view, the legislature might take a different point of view. Chip in front of state house. - Since adoption is administered under state law The Open Adoption Records advocates have to make their case state by state. According to Bastard Nation, a national open adoption records advocacy group, 6 states now have some form of open adoption record laws. We will find out this legislative session whether New Hampshire will be added to that list. For NH Outlook I'm Chip Neal |
| BP Bump Return to index of stories... |
National Council for Adoption www.ncfa-usa.org National Adoptee Rights Organization www.bastards.org |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
In business news today, help may be on the way for Taco Bell franchises stinging in the wake of a nationwide recall of taco shells. Shells packed under the Taco Bell brand name were recalled from supermarket shelves last fall. They apparently were made with genetically engineered corn not approved for human consumption. There's word that the parent company may have to "buy out" franchise owners who've lost business over the controversy. |
| Wall Street Return to index of stories... |
On wall street today, investors went hunting for high tech stocks. The market ended on a mixed note. The dow was down nearly 108. While the nasdaq was up nearly 64 points. CG:STOCKS\Dow Industrials\10795.41\-107.9\New York Stock Exchange\652.03\-5.69\American Stock Exchange\936.01\+1.69\Nasdaq \2491.41\+63.69\S & P 500\1315.91\-2.89 |
| NH Stocks Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at some stocks of interest to New Hampshire. Oracle was up nearly 2 and a half. Sanmina and Teradyne were both up well over 4 points. Texas Instruments was up more than one and a quarter while Verizon Communications was down two. CG:STOCKS\Oracle\25.00\+2.44\Sanmina\39.38\+4.38\Texas Instruments\39.35\+4.22\Teradyne\38.75\+1.34\Verizon Communications\52.20\-2.00 |
| Intro Counties Fund Return to index of stories... |
The impact of last month's Superior court ruling on education funding is being felt in Strafford County. The county is one of the five which have been been put on the "watch list" of Moody's Investors Service. Strafford County is the second county in the state to get turned down for a loan because of the uncertainty of getting money from property taxes. Strafford County Commissioner George Maglaras joined me earlier to talk about the dilemma. OUT: |
| Harbormaster Return to index of stories... |
Fall out from the Port Authority Audit continues. The port's harbor master, Roger Tropf has been suspended. The attorney generals office is investigating Tropf following the discovery of questional personal expenses, alleged misuse of state property and funds. Tropf has been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. |
| Intro Burdick Return to index of stories... |
For all of you who have yet to receive your special Valentine's gift, we offer this treat. Burdick's Chocolates - they're hand-made and are delicious. The next time you're in the Walpole area, stop in and meet the people who have made these confections recognized world-wide. OUT: |
| BURDICK CHOCO Return to index of stories... |
"I love a dark chocolate bar -- plain, without nuts -- daily." "There are people who get excited by chocolate. Some call them chocoholics, I prefer to call them chocophiles" Welcome to the church of chocolate where people take their faith seriously. "We're chocolate cooks, not candy makers." That's Larry Burdick. He and his wife Paula founded Burdick Chocolates in 1987. Their journey here, to Walpole started in France where Larry learned to cook. Eventually, he became fascinated with chocolate. In fact, he ended up on a pilgrimage to Switzerland. "While I was there, I realized that what they were doing was not being done here." So, Larry made it happen here. He hired skilled chefs and whenever possible, found local farms to buy ingredients. "The biggest difference is what we put in our product. Not many people spend what we do on ingredients. Like any other cooking, you can't go wrong when you use the right ingredients such as fresh butter and cream." It's the way Larry remembers chocolate tasting, years ago in Switzerland. "I want them to have a gastronomical experience - to taste activity in their mouths. I want them to realize that chocolate is an agricultural food. Some people who are used to candy will not like our chocolates. They say that they are bitter. Well, this is how real chocolate tastes." A lot of what is made here is sold through mail orders. Larry also hand delivers these confections to gourmet shops throughout the northeast. This little critter has become a perennial favorite. "It started out as a special once and they caught on quickly. Now the mice are a part of the regular menu. 1 in 20 people don't like them. They say ohhhh I can't eat a rodent." They must taste better than the real thing as they sell out quickly for Christmas and Valentine's Day. And what about this special Valentine's evening? Larry has a suggestion. "The ideal setting is a fine meal followed by a nice glass of wine and a small plate of chocolates. It's a great end to the evening." |
| Tag Burdick Return to index of stories... |
Burdick Chocolates can be found on the web at burdickchocolate.com. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and more links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. If you've got a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - Governor Jeanne Shaheen presents her budget proposal to the legislature. We'll look at the numbers and have reaction live in our studio. Plus. it's winter recess and thousands of parents will be joining their children on ski trips. But the rules of the slopes are changing. We'll show you what you need to know before you head to the mountains. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for NOVA We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| Picture of the Day Return to index of stories... |
Finally tonight. we want to leave you with our picture of the day, sent into us via email from Jason Grant of Strafford. This snow man and snow woman decorated in the spirit of the day. Hey, is that a llama in the background? |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Governor Jeanne Shaheen presents her budget proposal to the legislature. Plus. it's winter recess and thousands are heading to the mountains. We'll show you the new rules of the slopes. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |